The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-01
EARLHAM COLLEGE.
Address of Barnabas G. Hobbs at the Corner
Stone Laying, June 20.

AT Tue laying Oh Tue COru6E-SLO00 Oh the new
buildings to be erected at Earlham College. on
Wednesday, Hon. Barnabas c. Hobbs spoke as
follows:
We here lay the cornerstone of a college edi-
ice, typical of strength and service. 1t is chosen
of material that can resist the erosions of time.
Solomon once erected college edifice in the
Holy City about twcnty-nine centuries ago. He
was its president, and high priest its proctor.
1t typiIied both heaven and earth, instructing US
IL our relations to both. It rought to man the
law and wisdom of heaven. and prepared him
for the service of earth. Ii required of its pres
ident complete university course. He must be
able to speak 5000 proverbs. This implied
good knowledge of psychology, intellectual
and moral philosophy, political econo-
my, social science and the philosophy of
government He had wisdom and understanding
exceeding much, and largeness Of heart, even AS
the sand that is on the seashore Grand quail
ties for all to possess, either as teachers or as
students. "And Solomon's wisdom excelled all
the wisdom of the east country, and all the
wisdom of Egypt" He must then have been
good linguist. historian, mathematician, and
astronomer. as well as theoloeiau. HE spoke
of trees from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon,
even unto the hyssop, that springeth out of the
wall. He spoke also of beasts and of fowl, and
OF creeping things and of fishes" He was then
chemist botanist, versed in natural history,
geology ichthyoiogy-all the natural sciences.
and acquired all his knowledge so systematically
that he became less distinguished for his
power to explain to others what he had learned,
than for the vastness of his attachments.
the Almighty for knowledge and wisdom. He
can richly answer our prayers, especially when
we pray like Solomon, for qualifications to do
great work that will honor the glver and bless
mankind. But let US look little more attentive
~ to that wonderful structure. The stones were
mined from the earth by human instrunen taIty
and skill It earthly structure for divine
purposes. 1t had large foundation stones They
estimated to be forty -fva feet long, twelve
high, and eighteen thick. "A liberal man de-
viseth liberal things, and by liberal things shall
he stand " The lords tyDical hOusa had a solid
foundation. 1t could not be shaken. The super
structure was of precious and imperisbable
material. Gold and silver were very abundant
in it. David and Solomon consecrated to its
service 81 COO 600, 600 worth of gold and silver
one-fourth the value of the currency of the world
to-day.
These precious gifts came from countries far
and near. They were the savings of the CEN
turtles, and in his museum were the precious
metals. ivory, apes and peacocks collected by
Tyrian navies in their three-year voyages. To
the temple here erected we gather the wealth of
the centuries. The land of Iran, the Indies,
Egypt, Greece, Rome. modern Europe, the wis
dom of the ancient and modern world is our in
heritance and will be found in the alcoves of
these halls. The volcanoes of the Sandwich
islands anc their sea-grt shores have given
their treasures. We have gathered rich material
from the organic and inorganic kingdoms from
sea and land, from the equator to the poles.
We want the student of nature to see what God
has made Wisdom, beauty and utility are seen
in His works. We would have it rich as
Soonon's temple
Let us see another object lesson in that ancient
typical structure. It was made of crude material
taken from the quarry. The plummet, line and
square were applied to the stones thus mined by
wise artifcers. They were squared and polished.
They were made precious by beautiful gold
and silver designs, pearls and precious
the cruds material of many homss
come to this place to be filed with that which is
better than gold. silver precious stones pearls.
They will be polished, shaped and inlaid with
love, knowledge, wisdom, purity, truth, faith
and holy aspirations, and silently take their
places in church and state, prepared by wise
artificers and cunning workmen and by Gods
grace and blessing.
God. our creator, has given US two books, the
co-ordinates of each other, which must be read
together by all who would attain to true wisdom.
These the book of nature and the book of
revelation. Each throws essential light
the other, and their reciprocal instructions place
the student forever in the divine presence, aud i.
teach him like Job was taught in the last chap
tiers of his Scripture biography. When he saw
the omnipotence. omniscience and omnipres-
ence of God, and the wisdom, beauty and en6~-
less diversity of His creation, and of his incom-
prehensible grandeur and majesty in the
heavens above, well in the earth
beneath, his boosted righteousness while in the
presence of Eliphas, the Temante Bildad, the
Shuttle, and Zophar, the Naamithite, alb
horred and he repented in dust and ashes. Such
conceptions humbed Sir Isaac Newton, and
made him a chidike philosopher So
David humbled when he beheld the earth, the
heavens and the starry universe. He saw his
how God could watch over and keep him in
mem brance when garnishing the heavens and
guiding suns and planets in their courses His
Book of Revelation throws a flood of light into
mans soul, teaching him his origin and destiny
his dual organism of soul and body, that he
made in the image of God himself, unfolding
him eternal life in world to come. and instruct
ing him in His wisdom and eternal truth. The
book of nature. read in the light of divine reve-
lation. elevates the soul to COM
panionship with the Creator. Since both
hooks have the Uthor WIN is he in
terrreter of both. the student does well to ac
cept this great truth without doubling
Colleges and universities for two thousand
years have made it one of their important pur-
poses to determine the foundation principles of
moral duty. The Athenan philosophers put
these inquiries to the front as the chief end of
learning. When Paul stood on Mars hill and
a purer faith than their schools of
had ever taught, he gave a death
blow to superstition and the >sophistry of all
false religions, and declared to them doctrine,
heaven inspired, on which all moral obligation
can safely rest. Collegians since that day have
the inquiry. But, blinded by the nat
ural depravity of the human heart and the de-
ceitfulness OF human nature, their teachings
have made she world great battlefield. and the
consciences of men slaves to power. Though it
has been 1887 Years since a cohort of angels
sang to the shepherds of Palestine, "Glory to
God in the highest, Oh earth peace and good
will to men; there is born this day the city of
David Savior, which is Christ the Lord" yet
N the face OF such plain, unvarnished system
Of divine ethics as comes to Us in the teachings
Of this holy parsonage, and His inspired Pauline
spistles in His New Testament, colleges and uni
versites. and Christian churches have been set
ting up two standards of authority in morals
that are out of harmony with each other, the
state. and the gospel of the Lord. One requires
hatred, and revenge, and death to enemies; the
other love to enemies Thou shalt not
kill" 1.-THE Son of not to destroy
mems lives but to save them" Moral philosophy
s thus lowered to suit our depraved nature,
rather than to bring man up to partnership
Of angels Thefgreat purpose of the gospel of
our Lord is first to make men citizens of heaven
hat they may be prepared to be citizens of
earth
While men resting their actions on false
systems of belief, the world will remain out of
harmony with the divine Lawgver All truth
vas unfolded in the teachings of Calvin,
luther and Knox wonderful and worthy as
heir lives Theirs the dawn of
brighter day. 1t is matter of surprise
hat universities, colleges, rarliaments and